Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 26 2010:
A 14-year old girl studying in class VIII at Patlou Junior High School, Moirang Lamkhai has been allegedly kidnaped by suspected cadres of a Kuki UG group.
The abducted girl has been identified as Kiyam Kiranbala d/o Kiyam Khogen of Moirang Phairenbam Leikai.
Addressing a press conference jointly at Manipur Press Club here today, representatives of seven organisations, namely, AMKIL, CLK, Chituawa, UMO, Kanglamei and Women's Welfare of UCM informed that Kiranbala did not return home after having gone to school along with her friend Takhellambam Mira-lakshmi of the same locality in the morning of July 30 .
While searching for the two missing girls, it was learnt that they have gone together with one Phairenbam Boicha s/o of Phairenbam Deva of Moirang Phairenbam Leikai, who is the boyfriend of Miralakshmi and all three of them were in Molnom Kuki village.
Senior family members and relatives have gone to get them.
But armed cadres of a Kuki UG group and the villagers intimidated them asking to leave the place or else their vehicle would be set on fire.
The villagers also informed the visitors that Miralakshmi and Boicha have married.
Three days after, Deva, father of Boicha went and brought back his son and daughter-in-law from the custody of the Kuki UG group.
As for Kiranbala, the Kuki UG group handed over a letter signed on the letter head of Inpi of Molnom village by its secretary declaring that she has been eloped to one Lambem Hangshing of the group.
However, till date no customary practice of informing the family members of the girl about the elopement has been done.
So, there is strong suspicion that Kiranmala has been abducted and detained against her will, the representatives said.
They further informed that family members of Kiranmala have already appealed to various civil organisations of Kuki community for safe release of Kiranbala.
So, in case, the girl is not release within September 1, agitation would be launched in association with various other organisations and the civil organisations of Kuki community and the involved Kuki UG group should be held solely responsible for any eventuality in this regard, the representatives warned.